(a) There shall be in Escambia County a county board of equalization and adjustment, to consist of three members, each of whom shall have been a resident of the county for at least five years.

(b) The county board of equalization as now constituted is hereby abolished and the duties of the board are transferred to the county board of equalization and adjustment.

(c) The board shall be composed of three members appointed as provided in this section to serve four-year terms. During the month of August, 2005, and during the month of August of each fourth year thereafter, the county commission of the county and the county board of education shall each appoint one person to membership on the county board of equalization and adjustment. During the month of August, 2005, and during the month of August of each eighth year thereafter, the governing body of the City of Atmore shall appoint one person to membership on the county board of equalization and adjustment and during the month of August, 2009, and during the month of August of each eighth year thereafter, the governing body of the City of Brewton shall appoint one person to membership on the county board of equalization and adjustment.

(d) Each person appointed to membership, before entering upon the duties of such office, shall take and subscribe to the following oath, in addition to the oath required of regularly elected county officials:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon me by law, as a member of the county board of equalization and adjustment, and that I will adjust, equalize, and fix the taxable value of all property listed for taxation and submitted for review to the board of which I am a member, on a basis of its fair and reasonable market value to the best of my knowledge and ability, so help me God."

The oath, together with the other official oath required of the board member shall be fIled for record in the office of the judge of probate.

(e) The members of the board shall elect one of their number as chair. Should they fail to agree, the appointing authorities shall select the chair.

(f) The appointing authority appointing a member of the board shall have the right to remove the member at any time without cause. Should a vacancy on the board occur, then the appointing authority which appointed the member shall appoint another person to fill the vacancy. The time of service each year and the compensation and expenses of the members of the board shall be that applicable to the members of the board of equalization in a county with the total comparable value equal to that of Escambia County. The governing bodies of Escambia County and the two largest municipalities in the county and the county board of education may extend the working period of the members of the board and may increase the rate of pay of the members as they may determine from time to time or may increase the pay without extending the term.

(g) The base compensation of the members of the board as provided in subsection (f) shall be paid one-third by the state, one-third by the county, and one-third by the two largest municipalities in the county, provided, however that any increase in the pay above the base rate shall be paid one-third by the county, one-third by the two largest municipalities in the county, and one-third by the county board of education.

(h) The powers and duties in proceedings of the board, the employees thereof and their compensation and payment, and inventory and the cost and payment therefor, and all other matters pertaining to its operation in the equalization of taxes shall be as now provided by law for boards of equalization.